I threw the swatch of suede from “Leanne’s Sewing Shoppe” in with a load of laundry. They recommended I wash it to see if there was any change. My coat is machine washable and we wanted to make sure the material did not shrink.

That is another reason we did not use leather. Real leather is the best material but not easily cleaned. I would never throw a leather coat in the washing machine.

* * * * * * *

God gave Moses instructions for building everything in the tabernacle. We read about the gold used – until the altar.

Exodus 37-39, “They made from bronze all the utensils for the altar…” The Message

God chose material that would stand up to daily use without eroding. God could have solid gold if He wanted. But that would be heavy and impractical. God chose the best material for each job.

Many times, I’ve asked God why He chose me to write this blog. Why not choose a Doctor of Divinity? That would be gold.

He wanted someone who was durable – like bronze – to write this blog. Someone who would see Him in the everyday. Someone with a mother’s commitment, unsung – 7 days a week, 52 weeks a year.

If we knew all motherhood would cost us, we might have avoided it. But then, we would have missed the rewards that make the cost worthwhile.

Do you ever feel you are the wrong person for the job?

(Once again, I receive no commission from “Leanne’s Sewing Shoppe.”)

©2009-2018 thisyearsbiblereadingguide.com. All Rights Reserved.

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I got up early this morning and caught up my journal. It took almost 2 hours.

I wrote about my birthday dinner and what we bought shopping. I named the people who called to sing “Happy Birthday.” And wrote about the waiter who wrote it on my dessert. (He also put a lit candle in my dessert.)

I wanted to write it all down before church. But my post was long and I ran out of time.

Exodus 31:13, “…Above all, keep my Sabbaths…” The Message

I considered writing between church and the nursing home service. But my daughter stopped by and I ate lunch with her.

Exodus 31:16, 17, “…observe the Sabbath – keeping down through the generations, as a standing covenant. (17) It’s a fixed sign…” The Message

I didn’t have to read it 3 times to get the message. After the nursing home service, I rested.

How do you spend your Sundays? The Amish go to church every other week and visit extended family on the off weeks. Who do you visit?

©2009-2018 thisyearsbiblereadingguide.com. All Rights Reserved.

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We bought a coat – for David.

We shopped all day in 2 different cities. He really needed that coat. He tried it on and then put it back on the rack in the first city. He found it again, priced lower, and bought that one.

He is a wise and patient man. (As he dropped me off at Hobby Lobby, he said, “I’ll just go next door and wait in line for a haircut.”)

God provided the right coat at the right price. He will do the same for me.

How do I know God cares about clothes? Look at the detail in Aaron’s priestly robes.

Exodus 29:5, “…belting the Ephod on him with the embroidered waistband.” The Message

Today is “Pastor Appreciation Sunday.” We take a special offering and bless our pastors. (God made special clothes for all the priests.) The chapters we read showed how God took care of his priests.

1. Job Security – Exodus 29:9, “…Their priesthood is upheld by law and is permanent. …” The Message. Continue giving even when you don’t like the sermons, or when your favorite project has to wait, or when others want to fire them.
2. The Best – Exodus 29:27, “…the breast and the thigh are for Aaron and his sons.” The Message. It was never God’s design to keep Pastors humble and poor.
3. Give Regularly – Exodus 29:28, “…make this offering regularly…” The Message. Your tithe belongs in the storehouse where you are regularly spiritually fed. Anything over and above that 10% is an offering. You give an offering to other ministries.
4. Remember It’s God’s Work – Exodus 29:37, “…the altar will be soaked in holiness…” The Message. Everything in the church is holy. We don’t sit in seats we are on an altar. We aren’t there for entertainment, we are there to die to ourselves. The more I say “no” to my body, (yes, it kills me), the more I say “yes” to God’s Spirit.
5. These Are Your God’s Instructions – Exodus 29:46, “I am God, your God.” The Message. People hate it when you tell them what to do. But you aren’t obeying your Pastor; you’re obeying your God.
6. Give Your Best in Little Things – Exodus 30:23, “Take the best spices…” The Message. Today I will play for the nursing home service. There’s a line of people who audition to play or sing on the worship team. There is no line to minister at the nursing home. And the line to minister in the nursery is mighty short.
7. Give from Your Gifting – Exodus 30:35, “…the art of a perfumer, salted and pure – holy.” The Message. David still talks about Bev Kennedy. She was a gifted baker. David substituted on the drums in Mt. Pleasant a few times. They have 2 services. Between the first and second service, Bev would feed the Pastors and worship team. Working in a service is exhausting. It depletes your body, soul, and spirit. Bev’s goodies would revive and rejuvenate the body. It lifted the spirits and they would be ready to do it all over again. (It’s not a well-known fact that most preachers and singers fast before the service.)

Are you blessing your Pastor this month? Did you give your best? Was it an offering or did you redesignate your tithe? Did you give from your gifting?

©2009-2018 thisyearsbiblereadingguide.com. All Rights Reserved.

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I’m looking for a warmer winter coat. I love my white coat with black accents but the black is starting to fray at the sleeves. I still get compliments on that coat.

I’m tired of being cold when the temperature drops below zero. I want a maxi length to keep my legs warm. I need a polyester coat because I’m allergic to wool, nylon, and feathers. I can get by with a down coat if the feathers stay inside.

See, it’s like looking for a needle in a haystack!

It also needs a removable hood because fur is a no-no. And I want cuffed sleeves because I don’t like cold air blowing up my arms.

Oh, I need it in a tall size, too.

I’ve looked everywhere: Penney’s, Eddie Bauer, L.L. Bean, Dillard’s, Nordstrom, Kohl’s, Orscheln’s, TSC, K Jordan, Shopko, Target, Talbots, Von Maur, T. J. Max, Ebay.com, Shopzilla, Overstock.com, Amazon.com, Chadwicks, Metro Style, and Ann Taylor Loft.

I found one that met most of the requirements at Macy’s. David worked 10 hours for that much money and it would look like I was wearing a sleeping bag. I won’t waste money on something I don’t love.

I opened my Bible and one sentence gave me the answer.

Exodus 26:1, “…A skilled craftsman should do it.” The Message

I can buy black “pleather” (The coat has to be machine washable.) and take my white coat to Dotty’s. That’s the seamstress who shortened the sleeves on the white coat for me. She could just replace the panels on the sleeves. The coat would look like new again.

(Now I really have to go to Hobby Lobby!)

I will keep searching for a warmer coat. There has to be one somewhere. I’ve even looked at “Goodwill” and “Stuff.”

On those bitter cold days, I can always pull out David’s old coveralls. They kept me toasty at the hot dog roast and hayrack ride. (I didn’t go on the ride but we ate in an unheated warehouse. I also skipped the hot dogs.)

I got a lot of comments on those coveralls. They weren’t compliments but I didn’t care. I was warm.

Where else can I look for a heavy winter coat? Help!

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I worked on it for several mornings. I had a scale drawing of our big room in the basement. There are also cutouts of furniture. One morning, I measured all the area rugs. Then I drew them to scale and colored them.

The next morning, I moved those rugs around on the floor plan. They won’t cover all of it, but I will have furniture over the bare parts.

I rearranged the furniture on paper. I wanted to eliminate a bottleneck by the table. I moved furniture out of the room and brought other pieces in. When I had it set, I laid the floor plan on the top of the bookshelf in David’s office.

* * * * * * *

We were discussing plans for Saturday. Our original plan was to go away Friday night, but that got scrapped. We couldn’t decide where to go or what to do.

Finally, I said, “Do you want to help me rearrange the basement?”

“No.”

“Do you want to see what I have in mind?”

“No.”

I let it go. Who wants to spend their birthday rearranging furniture!

We decided to go “see the rabbits.” (That’s what Derek thought we said when he was 5. We surprised him with a birthday party at Chuck E. Cheese in Cedar Rapids, IA.)

No, we won’t eat there for my birthday! And I nixed a stop at “Guitar Center!” I’m thinking Kirkland’s, Hobby Lobby, Von Maur, and Penney’s!

David came back later and said, “If you really want to, we can rearrange the basement.”

I said it could wait. But I want it done before Thanksgiving. The first step is to look at the design.

Exodus 25:40, “Study the design you were given on the mountain and make everything accordingly.” The Message

How do you celebrate your birthday? (David surprised me with roses last week. He lets me celebrate more than one day.)

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